"We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address

Diver

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

1. GULF OF ADEN: There has been no let up in Gulf of Aden smuggling deaths, per 10 Apr reporting. Mariners are advised to be aware of the potential need to render assistance to stranded migrants, or the need to ward off unscrupulous smugglers while transiting the Gulf of Aden, particularly between Bosaso, Somalia (11:17.04N 049:10.56E) and Bir Ali, Yemen (14:01.30N 048:20.30E). Background: At a press briefing on 10 Apr, a spokesman for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) explained that at least 34 people being smuggled from Somalia drowned after being forced overboard by smugglers in deep waters off the coast of Yemen. The incident occurred on 06 Apr when three smuggling boats approached the Yemeni coast near Bir Ali following a two-day voyage from the Bosaso region of Somalia. When Yemeni authorities fired warning shots and tried to intervene, smugglers moved to deeper water where they forced the migrants overboard, beating and stabbing those that resisted. On 15 Apr, the UN Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) reported a similar incident on 12 Apr where warning shots from the Yemeni Coast Guard reportedly frightened migrants onboard an overloaded small boat causing it to capsize, drowning 130 people. Another two smuggling vessels fled the scene after which one forced passengers overboard before reaching the coast, killing an additional 35 migrants. In 2006, some 26,000 people made the perilous voyage across the Gulf of Aden and at least 330 died. Another 300 were reported missing and are believed dead. A 10 Apr report estimated more than 5,600 migrants have landed on the Yemeni coast so far in 2007, and at least 200 people have died trying.*** 3. NIGERIA: Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel (MYSTRAS) attacked, hostages taken early 3 May while at anchor 55 NM off the coast from Port Harcourt, Okono Oil Field. The Italian oil firm Eni SpA confirmed hostages were taken from the vessel managed by its subsidiary. The nationalities of the hostages are two Croatian, one Briton, one Romanian, and one Australian. Later the same day, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta reportedly said in an e-mail that the hostages were on their way back to Port Harcourt by boat and a local official confirmed authorities planned to receive them at the state government headquarters (AP).. 4. NIGERIA: Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel (OLOIBIRI) attacked, hostages taken 1 May, offshore Bayelsa State. Gunmen armed with dynamite seized six foreign workers and killed a Nigerian government security member in an attack on the Chevron Nigeria Ltd. vessel. The nationalities of the hostages are four Italians, one Croatian, and one American. The vessel was moored near the Funiwa Platform. The FSO supports fields that currently produce approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day (gross production). The fields have been shut down to avoid any additional security or safety incidents (Chevron, AP, LM).. 5. NIGERIA: Security vessel (MIKE ONE) attacked 19 Apr in the evening, Delta Region. Security sources stated that gunmen attacked the vessel and abducted three Nigerian staff as well as seizing weapons and equipment. Another six people were injured and airlifted out of the area. The security vessel was supporting drilling rig (TRIDENT 8) which was later shut down. The incident occurred within a 10 minute boat ride from the oil rig (DON WALKER), and the staff there had requested security reinforcements from the nearest naval base. Sources said the attack on the vessel appeared to be criminal rather than politically motivated (REUTERS).***9. OMAN: LPG Tanker reported attempted boarding 22 Apr, at 0545 UTC while underway in position 20:28.7N-059:17.0E, approximately 20NM Northeast of Masirah Island. The master reported a white speedboat with three people onboard approached the vessel from the aft starboard quarter. The speedboat had two engines manned by one person while two people stood forward by a white container and were holding a hook with a long line. The speedboat got within 2 to 3 meters. The men were reportedly well equipped with their faces covered and wearing rubber gloves. No weapons were observed. The master sounded the alarm, the crew mustered and took appropriate actions. The speedboat continued following for 8 minutes then returned to a group of three similar speedboats 1NM away. ONI Note: ONI is aware of four other incidents geo-located in this area in the past, all remarkably similar in nature, with the first incident reported in Feb 2002. All describe speedboats aggressively maneuvering within close quarters of passing vessels. Some report seeing masked individuals on the speedboats. The vessels were never boarded and no weapons were positively identified. These incidents all plot close to a 73 NM line drawn between the SW and NE most incidents (20:28.7N 059:17.0E and 21:43.8N 059:52.2E respectively). This line comes within 20 NM of the coast and roughly parallels the 100 fathom contour curve near an area that drops to 1000 fathoms in as quickly as 5 to 10 NM. As such, this is a likely area of nutrient upwelling and high living marine resource productivity. Mariners transiting this area are likely to encounter fishermen aggressively protecting fishing gear or seeking retribution for damaged fishing gear. Other unscrupulous small boat operators could take advantage of this environment by attempting to rob passing mariners. Vessels transiting a parallel course 15 NM SE of this area, where the water depths drop to greater than 1000 fathoms, are not as likely to encounter these aggressive small boat interactions (ONI, OPERATOR, IMB).***

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EagleSpeak

About EagleSpeak

The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear. I am a retired attorney and a retired Navy Reserve Captain (Surface Warfare). Opinions expressed herein are my own. Sometimes I have the experience to back them up. Your opinions may vary. Don't panic. Feel free to disagree, that's what free speech is all about.
Nothing contained herein should be confused as me giving legal advice to anyone. If you are confused, welcome to the club. All mistakes herein are my fault. I have sufficient academic credentials to be dangerous to myself and to others.
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Under the header: Master Diver Adam Winters of Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2, performs a front step water entry from USAS Paulus Hook (LCU 2033) (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Daniel P. Rolston/Released)